Rambert Grades 1-8
Outstanding Contemporary Dance training for students aged 4-19
Rambert Grades: Training that empowers
Rambert Grades is a new holistic training, promoting transferable skills, and developing the whole individual. It's inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of ability and prior experience. It inspires creativity and encourages dancers to make choices and develop their own interpretation of movement
The Rambert Grades syllabus has three pillars:
Performance, including original solo material from leading choreographers
Creativity, to encourage self-development and a sense of self enterprise
Technique, to support students’ dancing
Developed by a leading team of experts from Rambert and Rambert School with some of the most dynamic and relevant voices of contemporary dance in the UK – including material devised for the syllabus by Hofesh Shechter, Alesandra Seutin and Benoit Swan Pouffer. Rambert Grades is a new benchmark in contemporary dance training and education where examination is just part of a journey that enables and develops talent.
HSCD is the first school in Hastings and East Sussex to have offered Rambert Grades; we have Grades 1-8 as well as primary and pre primary levels.
What are classes like?
• Our Rambert Grades Contemporary Dance classes offer a balanced blend of Technical exercises, including centre work, floor work, and traveling sequences; learning a Performance Strand solo with opportunities to interpret it personally; and Creative work where students collaborate to choreograph their own pieces.
• Music is not fixed, similar to the professional dance industry. This allows the teacher and students to adapt the class’s soundtrack to suit our mood, and to celebrate different cultures and styles.
• All syllabus material is non-gendered, ensuring that every dancer learns every exercise and solo without limitations.
• Rambert Grades Trained Teachers are equipped to support each student holistically, helping them discover their individuality and unlock their creative potential. Students are encouraged to succeed in their own unique way.
• Safe practice is at the core of every class, creating a joyful and nurturing environment for growth and training.
Awarding Organisation/Exams
Rambert Grades exams celebrate progress in a supportive way. Exams are filmed in groups by the teacher in the students' familiar environment, making for a friendly and welcoming environment.
Exam candidates receive a certificate to mark their achievement, awarded with pass, merit, distinction and distinction*. Exams are designed to inspire confidence and prepare children for the next step in their dance journey.
Rambert Grades qualifications are regulated by Ofqual. Rambert Grades is the only fully structured contemporary dance examination programme, and the qualifications are recognised and taught at many universities.
Benefits to Students/ What will your child learn?
Dance at highest technical skills. As students move through the Grades, they build strong technical dance skills that improve their physical ability, artistic expression, musicality, and confidence on stage. As they continue to refine these skills, they gain a solid foundation for future careers in dance or other creative fields, while also developing discipline, teamwork, and a better understanding of their bodies.
Spark creativity. Rambert Grades Contemporary Dance training encourages independent thinking, self-expression, and personal interpretation. With a structured yet flexible approach, students are free to explore and develop their creativity. This supportive environment helps them build confidence, take risks, push boundaries, and express themselves in an authentic way.
Boost communication and teamwork skills. The Creative Strand encourages teamwork and communication between students as they learn to share ideas, communicate and collaborate effectively. By supporting both individuality and cooperation, Rambert Grades ensures students excel not only as dancers but also as creative, confident individuals.
Develop confidence and individuality. In a supportive environment where students are encouraged to express their ideas and celebrate their individuality, they build confidence in their unique contributions. This not only helps them recognise the value of what they have to offer but also develop an appreciation for the strengths and perspectives of others in the room, fostering a deep sense of self-worth and mutual respect
Support a healthy life of movement. This syllabus lays a strong foundation for movement exploration – dance, sport and healthy living. It helps students develop key skills like body awareness, coordination, and flexibility, which are essential for both dance and other physical activities. By fostering anMember Resource: Promotional Material understanding of how movement supports overall health and well-being, the program encourages lifelong habits for physical fitness, mental clarity, and emotional balance.